AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP: Texas Rangers shut out Astros; Darvish one out from perfection

HOUSTON (AP) -- Yu Darvish was one out from a perfect game when Marwin Gonzalez grounded a clean single through the pitcher's legs, and the Texas Rangers beat the Houston Astros 7-0 on Tuesday night.

The celebrated right-hander from Japan struck out a career-high 14 and was in complete control before Gonzalez smacked the first pitch up the middle. Darvish was unable to get his glove down in time and the ball skittered into center field well beyond a desperate dive by shortstop Elvis Andrus.

Darvish (1-0) smiled and extended his arms -- almost like, "Oh well, it happens." Several disappointed fans put their hands on their heads, and Darvish was lifted after 111 pitches.

Darvish's 14 strikeouts matched a Minute Maid Park record and were the most by a Rangers pitcher since Hall of Famer and current team CEO Nolan Ryan had 14 in July 1991 against the Angels.

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Michael Kirkman allowed a single to Jose Altuve before fanning pinch-hitter J.D. Martinez to end it.

Darvish has never thrown a complete game in the majors.

Lucas Harrell (0-1) yielded six hits and one run in six innings. Lance Berkman had three hits and two RBIs against his former team. Ian Kinsler hit a two-run homer off Rhiner Cruz to make it 3-0 in the seventh.

ORIOLES 7, RAYS 4

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Adam Jones keyed a seventh-inning rally with a go-ahead, two-run double and Chris Davis followed with a three-run homer to help Baltimore open the season with a victory over Tampa Bay.

Matt Wieters homered early off AL Cy Young Award winner David Price. Wieters later drew an intentional walk from reliever Jake McGee (0-1) before Davis' towering shot over the right-field wall broke open the game and silenced a sellout crowd of 34,078 at Tropicana Field.

Jason Hammel (1-0) allowed three runs and three hits in six innings. Jim Johnson pitched a scoreless ninth for the save.

Ben Zobrist hit a solo homer for the Rays and put them ahead with a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

INDIANS 4, BLUE JAYS 1

TORONTO (AP) -- R.A. Dickey and the overhauled Blue Jays lost their season opener to Cleveland.

Asdrubal Cabrera hit a two-run homer off the NL Cy Young Award winner, Justin Masterson pitched six solid innings and the Indians ended their streak of opening day losses at four.

Excited by the winter acquisitions of Dickey, Jose Reyes and other All-Stars, fans in Toronto were eager to see the revamped roster in action.

Instead, a disappointed sellout crowd of 48,857 watched Masterson and three relievers combine on a four-hitter. Masterson retired his last 11 batters and Chris Perez earned a save.

Dickey (0-1) allowed four runs, three earned, and five hits in six innings. The knuckleballer walked four and struck out four. His catcher, J.P. Arencibia, was charged with three passed balls in the first two innings.